Starline to give pix an int’l spin

Co. seeks co-prod'n pacts for 'Carmen,' 'Creatures'

CANNES — Juan Alexander’s film and TV production company Starline is in negotiations to structure its three current pic projects, led by its flagship English-lingo pic version of “Carmen,” as international co-productions.

Budgeted at $6.5 million — a cost that does not include the five principal thesps — “Carmen” will lense in January under the helm of Vicente Aranda. Pic’s an adaptation of Merimee’s novella rather than Bizet’s opera.

Aranda will deliver a screenplay by mid-June.

Starline head of international co-productions Ana Amigo confirmed at Cannes that talks had begun with potential French co-prod partners on “Carmen” and Starline’s other most advanced projects: Dolores Payas’ $2.5 million “Adorable Creatures,” a femme drama set in late-19th century Barcelona, and Miguel Albaladejo’s $2 million “Cachorro.”

Albaladejo has written the pic’s main role for Sergi Lopez. Salvador Garcia (“Mensaka,” “The Other Side”) also stars.

Amigo also confirmed that Starline has initiated co-production conversations on “Carmen” and “Cachorro” with Italian companies.